For nearly 60 years, St. Jude Medical Center has met the needs of the community, by offering the highest quality care with compassion and respect. We are one of Southern California's most respected and technologically advanced hospitals, and our four core values: dignity, excellence, service and justice are the guiding principles for everything we do. St. Jude is synonymous with exceptional care that extends beyond good medicine to a commitment to caring for you – mind, body and spirit.

Search by Doctor's Name

Search by Specialty

St. Jude Medical Center has proudly served Southern California for over six decades, offering compassionate care of the highest quality. Our staff is composed of nearly 700 physicians who represent every specialty from cancer care to orthopedics. We always strive to set a new standard in quality and care.

Search Alphabetically

Search by Keyword

At St. Jude Medical Center, we are proud to serve the healthcare and medical needs of people throughout Southern California. Find out about our specialties by clicking the option above, or search through all of our services by choosing the letter or search to the left.

Today, St. Jude Medical Center’s commitment to excellence is more important than ever—and it is a generous community that makes that commitment possible. But as the medical needs of this community continue to grow, so does the importance of those willing to give to ensure state-of-the-art care. There are many ways you can help. To learn more, please call the St. Jude Memorial Foundation at (714) 992-3033.

Call Us

Atrial Fibrillation

What is atrial fibrillation?

Normally, the heart pumps in a well-timed fashion. The two upper chambers (atria) contract first followed by the two lower chambers (ventricles). This coordinated pumping is powered by the heart's own electrical system and efficiently pumps blood out to the body and back. In atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of arrhythmia, the electrical signals fire rapidly and chaotically. This causes the atria to quiver instead of contracting normally. Many of the signals also reach the ventricles, causing them to contract irregularly too. This results in a fast and irregular heart rhythm. Over time, this can weaken the heart and lead to heart failure. Plus, when the atria do not contract effectively, the blood may pool in the heart. This increases the risk that a blood clot may form and travel to the brain causing a stroke. People with AF are 5 to 7 times more likely to have a stroke than people who do not have AF.

AF is more common in people who are over 65 and is seen more often in men than women.

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

You may not have symptoms with AF. But, when ventricles are not able to pump enough blood out to the lungs and body, it can cause these symptoms:

Heart palpitations or fluttering in the chest

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Fatigue

Anxiety

Dizziness and faintness

Some people with AF have intermittent episodes (intermittent or paroxysmal AF). Others have chronic or persistent AF.

How is atrial fibrillation treated?

Some people with atrial fibrillation will return to normal rhythm without treatment. They will "convert" on their own back to normal rhythm. Treatment decisions depend in part on whether symptoms are bothersome and how long your heart has been in AF. For most people, treatment of AF involves attempts to restore (reset) the heart back to its normal rhythm (rhythm control) or to control the heart rate (rate control). Sometimes surgery or a procedure called catheter ablation is used. In addition, a person with AF is given medications to prevent blood clots to reduce the risk of stroke.

Rhythm control. Rhythm control is an attempt to reset the heart back to its normal rhythm. It can be done with medications or electrical shock.

Electrical cardioversion involves sending an electrical shock through paddles placed on the chest. Usually doctors will want you to take blood thinners for a period of time before electrical cardioversion to reduce the risk of a stroke from a dislodged blood clot.

Rate control. Medications to help control the heart rate include

Beta blockers, such as atenolol or metoprolol. These drugs slow the heart rate.

Calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem or verapamil. These drugs slow the heart rate.

Digoxin. This drug slows the electrical currents between the upper and lower chambers.

Catheter ablation. In this procedure, a catheter is guided through a blood vessel to the heart. Here energy is sent through the catheter to destroy small areas of heart tissue responsible for the arrhythmia. It may be an option when medications are not working.

Maze procedure. This is a surgical procedure in which areas of the heart are cut to create a "maze" of scar tissue that prevents the erratic electrical signals from passing through the heart.

Treatment to prevent blood clots. People with AF will be prescribed blood thinners to reduce the risk for stroke. This may include aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban. Your doctor will have a detailed discussion with you about which blood-thinning medications are most appropriate for you.